Kalamazoo Charter Township is a charter township of Kalamazoo County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 22,777 at the 2020 census.

The cities of Kalamazoo and Parchment are adjacent to the township and have annexed much land that was formerly within the township, such that the township now consists of two non-contiguous sections of land and one small section that is connected by a narrow point across Riverview Drive. Three census-designated places (CDPs) are within the township: Eastwood, Westwood, and part of Comstock Northwest. These are defined for statistical purposes and do not have any legal status as municipalities. However, both have an identity as communities, although the areas defined by the CDPs may not precisely correspond to local use of the terms. The CDPs can include nearby areas that locals might not consider as part of the community with the same name.

Kalamazoo Township was initially organized under the name of "Arcadia Township" by an act of the Territorial Legislature on July 30, 1830. A separate act on the same day organized the government of Kalamazoo County. Initially Arcadia Township consisted of all eight of the northern tier of townships in Kalamazoo County. In June 1832, Richland Township was set off, consisting of Richland, Ross, Charleston, and Comstock townships. On March 2, 1836, Arcadia Township was renamed as Kalamazoo Township, the same day that the village of Bronson was renamed as Kalamazoo. On March 11, 1837, Cooper Township was set off, consisting of Cooper and Alamo townships. On March 22, 1839, Oshtemo Township was set off from Kalamazoo.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of , of which are land and , or 0.95%, are water.

Government

The government of the township provides a number of services to its residents including its police department, fire stations, building and inspection services, and a planning and zoning board. The township allows residents to attend public meetings as well as bimonthly board meetings to voice concerns.

Committees, boards, and commissions

  • Current Board of Trustees (elected): David Combs (Supervisor, Democrat), Lisa Mackie (Clerk, Democrat), Sherine Miller (Treasurer, Democrat), Ashley Glass (Democrat), Craig Sherwood (Democrat), Colleen Leonard (Democrat), and Antonia (Toni) Kennedy (Republican)

Demographics

As of the census